Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18817, William Eldredge, Mass. Mass. Sea Service

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Noass.
Oldridge, William
S. 18817
Mass. Sea Service
on Oldridge
carded
CONTENTS

27415 Massachusetts
William Eldridge of Harwich in the State of Mass who was a Midshipman in the Compt - comma by Captain King - of the Disf. - comman. by Capt. Whitney in the Mass line for 8 Months pri. Navy Sea Service 13. " Seaman
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 78 - Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of May 1834 and sent to. Hono J. Reed H. Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. 1834.  $235 " 98 Semi-ant. allowance ending 11 Sep " 39-33 $ 275 " 31
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by George Taylor Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 22
76 Barnstable

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Barnstable ss. On this Eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court before the Honorable N. Marston of the Probate Court Judge - now sitting at Harwich in and for said County, William Eldridge Esq a resident of Harwich in said County, aged seventy four years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, A. D. 1832.
THAT he was born at Harwich in the State of Massachusetts on the twenty eighth day of July - A. D. 1758, and that there is a record of his birth : that he was in the United States service from the first day of April A. D. 1776, to the first day of December A. D. 1776 as a Private - in the Regular Army but is not certain whether militia or not : that he was residing at Harwich when he entered the service; that he enlisted for eight months
and served for the period aforesaid under the command of Col King the greater part of the time. The Colonel's name I think was Whitcomb Whitcomb & the General's name Lincoln : that he marched from Harwich to Boston & arrived there soon after the British evacuated the town. I was then ordered to go on board a ship to guard some cannon we had & went & returned in safety. When I returned I found Col King had removed to Sandwich but was soon that he served with I joined his company & left a fort at Nantasket but was soon ordered to serve under Col. Read in the N. H. State. There was a large American ship in Nantasket with English colors to decoy the British & I was one of the first that boarded a large British ship with a volly of musketry & captured her of the regular troops, and I remember no other regular officers & men
other were known to him: that he was in no battle and at the end of his service received a discharge in writing that I remember : that he left the service on the first day of December A. D. 1776 and that since the Revolutionary war he has resided at Harwich -
Also that he was in the United States service from the first of October A. D. 1777 to the first of Oct 1778 six months on board a six months in person in Halifax. 1777 as a seaman on board the Brig Hazard of sixteen Guns a States Vessel Senior Samson Commander I do not remember the name of the first Lieut. the 2 d Lieut's name was Hatch. We went in search of an English Brig of 18 guns commanded by a man whose name I think was Doran. He had done us much harm in capturing our coasters. We in company with a Brig called I think the Tyrannicide a Brig of 14 guns cruised off the coast & put away for the Grand Bank & soon took two prizes there, a Brig & Topsail Schooner & sent them to Martin's & the Brig arrived - We then cruised off the Western Islands & took our small British Brig We then cruised to the Windward of Barbadoes still in company with said Brig Tyrannicide We saw a large ship to the leeward & took her to be an American ship, but she turned out to be a British ship of war, & he gave us chase & fired upon us but we outsailed him & got into Martin's - We repaired our Brig & soon put out again in company with the Brig aforementioned the Brig Lion of 16 Guns & the Stink pot of 6 Guns over Lee & concluded to give her battle, and having arranged all things in the best manner we ran down

upon us but we out sailed him & got into Martin ico - we repaired our Brig & soon put out again in company with the Brig abovementioned the Brig Lion of 16 Guns & the Stink pot of 6 Guns I think the 2 nd  night we saw a ship under over Lee & concluded to give her battle, and having arranged all things in the best manner we run down & fired on her, she hauled up her course & prepared for action. We run along side. She hailed us & ordered us to strike. We looked to the leeward and saw the Lion under all sail making from
2 5 us and the other vessels named in company with us were also making all sail to escape; & we were left alone to fight the ship. It proved to be a heavy frigate. Orders were immediately given to loose and set sail as soon as possible & all sail was immediately set but they gave us many hard Grenades & musket shot & soon after cannon shot, & gave us chase. We suffered much in our sails & rigging. The next day our Captain gave orders to alter our course & get away from our own vessels as we feared they might again leave us in times of the greatest emergency. The next day we took an English Brig Thomas How born mande. I was put on board of her with others to bring her into Boston. In eleven days after we left the Hazard we came across a British 40 Gun ship called the Rainbow, & were captured & carried into Halifax. I was six months on board the Hazard & six months in Halifax in prison & while there had the small pox & lost the sight of one eye & suffered severely with a fit of sickness which greatly injured my constitution. — months — I also went a short cruise in the ship Mars immediately after my arrival at the Vineyard and arrived at Boston I think in about

the small pox & cost the sight of one eye & suffered severely with a fit of sickness which greatly injured my constitution — — months — I also went a short cruise in the ship Mars immediately after my arrival at the Vineyard and arrived at Boston I think in about one month in the month of October or November A D 1779
I have one witness of my service on the land but I know of no one who was with me in either of the cruises I have named —
I am well known to my clergymen Rev Nathan S. Clark & David Kendrick and neighbors who can testify as to my character for truth & the reputation in the neighborhood that I served as a soldier & in the sea service during the Revolution
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
William Eldredge
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year first aforesaid.
Attest Almon Davis, Reg. of the Court of Probate.
We Nathan S. Clark a clergymen residing in the town of Harwich clergymen and David Kendrick residing in the town of Harwich
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Eldredge — who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier & seaman of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. We also state he is a man of truth —
Sworn and subscribed as aforesaid.
Attest Almon Davis, Reg. of the Court of Probate.
Nathan S. Clark David Kendrick
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certify that it appears to them that Nathan S. Clark who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergymen resident in the town of Harwich; and that David Kendrick who has also signed the same is a resident in Harwich and is a credible person; and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Nymphas Marston — Judge
I Almon Davis Register of the Court of Probate do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Eldredge for a pension.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal of office on the day and year first aforesaid.
Almon Davis, Reg.

2 Jedediah Young of Orleans in the State of Massachusetts aged Seventy four years do testify and say that I was at Nantasket Massachusetts as a soldier six months in Capt Kings Company of Salem in the year AD 1776 & was discharged in the month of October of that Year. William Oldridge of Harwich was well known to me & I have always known him since said Oldridge commenced the service afore- said with me & I know he remained there six months & when I came away I left him there & further the deponent saith not. Jedediah Young
Barnstable
Probate Court at Harwich in said County Sept. 18. 1832
Personally appeared the abovenamed Jedediah Young in open court and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed in court. And I certify that the said Jedediah is, in the opinion of the Court a credible witness. In tes- timony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court the day & year afore- said
10. 11. S.W. S.W.
Almon Davis Register

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, April 22 d 1834.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of William Eldridge or Eldrig a private, is borne on a pay Roll of Samuel King's Company, Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment for the Colony Service" dated June 19. 1776, where he is entered, place of abode, Hardwick, number of miles 83. Travelling expenses 7. 10. Blanket money 13. 40. Advance pay £ 2. Total £ 3 = 5.
m 3. 12
The name of William Eldrig is also borne on Capt Samuel King's Company's Roll, from the 11 th of August to the 1 st of November 1776, where he is allowed four days preceding the march, time of service three months, whole amount £ 6. balance due £ 6. 00.
3:
The name of William Eldrige is also borne on "a pay Roll of Samuel King's Company, in Col. Josiah Whitney's Regiment in the service of the State of the Massachusetts Aug. 1. 1776" where he is allowed 4 th day preceding their march, May 23 d . Time in service two months

eight days, whole amount £ 4. 10. 8 d advance pay £ 2. balance due £ 2. 10. 8 d .
m 4. 12 m 2 8
The name of William Eldrig is also borne on a pay Roll of Samuel King's Company, in the same Regiment, from the first of November to the first of December, with travelling charges, dated December 3 d 1776. where he is entered, number of miles 90. Time in service 1. 4 one month four days, sum total £ 2. 12. 10 balance £ 2. 9. 10.
William Eldred also claims service on board the Hazard, in 1777 and 1778. No Rolls of the Hazard are found in this Office. The name of the Hazard is found in "Schedule No 1 of Vessels in employ of the Board of War for the Massachusetts State." No date. Also a Charter party of the Schooner Hazard, by which she was taken into the service of the Board of War. Jan. 18. 1777.
The Brig Hazard is entered on a "Return of armed vessels employed on the expedition against Penobscot, by the Board of War, for the State of Massachusetts Bay, with their appraised value" where she is described - owners State of Massachusetts Bay, Commander John F. Williams, Tons blank number of guns. Sixteen. This return is dated Boston July. 1779, and endorsed, "Armed ships em- ployed on Penobscot expedition. No. 8."

Certificate of William Eldrige.

There is also found a letter from the Board of war directed Messrs Joseph Gardoque and Sons, Merchants Bilboa, per Capt Samson, dated War Office Boston Nov. 17. 1777, signed By order of the Board Samuel Ropes Savage Pres. requesting their acceptance of his draft or not exceeding One hundred pounds Sterling, that Capt Lincon Samson, Commander of our Brig Hazard, may draw on you, and place the same to our Debit in account with you."
Edward D. Bangs Esq
Secretarys Office April 30. 1834.
On further examination a document which had been mislaid has been found, from which it appears that the name of William Eldrage, a Seaman is borne on "A pay Roll for the Officers, Seamen and marines, on Board the Brigantine Hazard, fitted out by the State of Massachusetts Bay during her first cruise under the Command of Lincon Samson," where he is entered 22 d November 1777 and allowed Time of Service five months and Twenty eight days, wages per month £ 3. 8. 0. Capt Samson made oaths to this Roll
June 12. 1778.
Edward D. Bangs Esq

I Ebenezer Nickerson of Harwich in Massachusetts aged sixty seven do testify and say that I was born & always lived very near to William Eldridge Esq who has this day made a declaration in order to obtain a pension. I well remember that said William Eldridge was absent about a year & it was the year A.D. 1777 or 1778 I understood at the time that he went a cruise on board the Brig Hazard & was after captured & carried into Halifax, when he returned he was sick & had had the small pox & had lost one eye
Ebenezer Nickerson
Barnstable
Probate Court at Harwich in said County Sep. 18. 1832
Personally appeared the abovenamed Ebenezer Nickerson in open Court and made oath to the truth of the above deposition by him subscribed in Court. And I certify the above named Ebenezer is, in the opinion of the Court a credible witness. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the Court the day & year aforesaid
Almon Davis, Register

"Rylmont"
West Conshohocken Pa
July 15 th 1897
pleas Sir:- E W
As it possible to have your Bureau inform me whether the names of two of my ancestors appear upon the Naval Records of the Revolution, on file in your depart-ment: William Eldredge and Jonathan Whieldin

Yours respectfully, (Mrs) Mary E. L. Smyth
To the: Hon. H. Clay Evans, Com: of Rensins.
to the Delaware River pilots of the above period.
The latter name has been variously written as: W'helding , Willding , Willdin , or Weldin .
I shall be very much indebted for any information you can give me concerning them or their services.

H. Dwyer.
18817
July 27/97 Mrs. Mary E. West Conshohocken, Pa.
INVALID.
File No. 18.517
William Eldridge
Pris Res War
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 113
[Arrangement of 1870.]